Byron Brewer Sr. – Leaving a Legacy

In remembrance of Byron Brewer Sr. October 22, 1933 – December 19, 2024

In this season of joy, we’re passing along news that one of the individuals who was involved in founding NEMRA, Byron Brewer Sr., passed away on December 20^th.

According to a note that was forwarded to me by Hank Bergson, a former president of NEMRA,

“Dear Family and Friends,

As we approach this holiday season, I am saddened to share with you the heartbreaking news of Byron’s passing. He died peacefully yesterday morning after a brief hospitalization.

While the holidays will feel very different without him, I believe he would want us to find comfort in each other and to cherish the memories we created together. Let us celebrate the love and kindness he shared, remembering the laughter and the moments that brought us joy.

I wish you all peace, comfort, and love during the holidays. Thank you for being part of our lives and for your support during this time.

With love,

Anne”

According to Hank, and subsequent emails with Gene Biben, I learned that Byron was one of the founders of NEMRA and, unfortunately, was apparently the last survivor of the original group of 24. I reached out to his son, Byron Brewer, the president and owner of Northeast Marketing Group, a Connecticut manufacturer representative, to share my condolences and to ask if he minded if I shared information about his father’s passing. Byron was appreciative and asked that I inform the broader electrical industry

Byron Brewer shared the following about his father’s passing:

“Byron passed away peacefully on his own terms Thursday December 19 after a brief stay at the rehab unit at the Moorings in Naples Florida after a fall. He had a great life and leaves behind many fond memories for us in the electrical industry. He followed in his father’s footsteps who worked as a sales rep for a New York manufacturer rep in the 50’s.

Byron joined Burndy Corporation as a salesman in Connecticut and interviewed with Bern Dibner who was the founder of Burndy out of Norwalk Connecticut.  In 1966 he and another electrical friend, Harry Mulligan, started the very first manufacturers rep agency, Harby Associates, (which stood for Harry (HAR) and Byron (BY)), that covered Connecticut and Western Mass as a sales territory. Prior to that the “splinter territory”, as he called it, was covered by reps from either Boston, or New York. He and Harry felt that Connecticut deserved a dedicated effort. Years followed and there were up to 14 reps that followed in those footsteps in Connecticut.

August 11, 1969, Byron and 24 other members of the electrical rep community met at the Sheraton LaGuardia airport hotel and set up a new organization of that time, NEMRA, which has grown to be one of the premier associations in our industry.

Byron later took the reigns as NEMRA chair from 1981-1982. He was very active in the Jovian Electric Club which was a Tri State group of reps, distributors and contractors. In 1992 he was recognized by Electrical Marketing with the prestigious GEM award.

He also was one of the founders of CEA (a now defunct group), Connecticut Electrical Association, that consisted of reps, and distributors in the territory. He was also active with the New England Chapter of IEC Independent Electrical Contractors.

His favorite pastime (after the rep business) was golf, and he managed to continue to enjoy that pastime up through February of 2024. He worked as a starter at course in Naples and made sure he always worked Tuesdays…Ladies Day…where he could ride around and joke with the ladies as they played their weekly matches.

He is survived by his Life Partner Anne Hale and two sons Byron Brewer Jr and Peter Brewer. He had 3 granddaughters and 2 great grandsons and 1 great granddaughter.

He will be fondly remembered by many in the industry.”

Hank Bergson, former president of NEMRA shared his remembrance:

“Byron was a founding member of NEMRA and also, I think, Founder of Jovian Electric Club (still in existence). He was also an avid golfer.

The had a terrific sense of humor – it was fun to be in his company.

He cared deeply about NEMRA and was committed to its success he regularly volunteered his time and talents to the Association

I could not have achieved the success I had with NEMRA without Byron’s commitment.

He was a successful Independent Manufacturers Representative that was admired by both colleagues and competitors alike.

When I grow up, I’d like to be Byron Brewer Sr.”

Gene Biben, whose father was involved in establishing NEMRA, spoke with him a few weeks ago and was making plans to see him in January. He shared:

“Just a few weeks ago when we talked, he said he looked at the LaGuardia picture and said he thought he was the last surviving in the picture.

He always enjoyed when being called one of the Jewish leaders of NEMRA along with my dad, Alan Rudolph and Walter Yusen. Of course he was included in that group with Dick Noel. He was proud he said of being part of what some called “The NEMRA Jewish mafia”

So many stories & truly a wonderful person with a super mind.

He and my dad were the two most loyal people I knew and a mentor to many.

He was always available, always proud of others’ successes. He would just call around and check in to see how you were doing. He called me one time and said he was going to suggest to Hank since he was getting older, we would be the convention committee for NEMRA, but he wanted the East Coast, and I would take the West.

I don’t know of anyone who exemplified the term “giving back” better than Byron Brewer.”

Leaving a Legacy

Byron Brewer Sr. left a legacy not only to his family but to the industry. The vision of 24 independent manufacturer representatives in 1969 to create an organization to represent representatives and give them a venue to network, now, 55 years later, has 342 representative members.

My condolences to Byron and his family.

If you would like to contact Byron, click here to email him. If you would like to make a donation in Byron Brewer Sr.’s name, Byron requested donations be made to the NEMRA Scholarship Fund.

May he rest in peace.